Clothesline



Jan. 20, 1959 J. A. TORRIENTE CLOTHESLINE Filed Feb. 6, 1956 fine/21s, k/ECH, 1 057512 fifmeers.

.inventioi relates tojl clotheslinesand similar structures for supporting a flexible object in space, and more particularly to a clothesline which. does not require the use of clothespins orthe like retain the object supported fixed in place. i 1

. In the ordinary clothesline it is conventional to clamp .each article to the line with oneor more separate clothespins. Each of these pins must be removed in ,order to remove the article from the line and they must be stored until the line is used again. It is an object of the invention to provide aclo thesline which does not require the useof a plurality of separate clamps or pins to maintain articles in position on the line.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a clothesline having a relatively rigid longitudinal member for supporting the articles of clothing and a relatively flexible longitudinal member positioned adjacent the rigid member for retaining the articles in position on the rigid member, the two members being fastened together adjacent their respective ends. Another object of the. invention is to provide such a clothesline having a spring structure which urges the flexible member into contact with the rigid member to retain the articles firmly in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothesline with a rigid supporting member having a groove along the longitudinal axis thereof, and a second member adapted to fit into the groove to clamp an article of clothing between the members in a reverse curve, creating retaining forces'without the use of separate pins or clamps.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the description merely describes preferred embodiments of the present invention which are given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing two embodiments of the invention on a single support structure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partially sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line of 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional'view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. l; and

Fig.- 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, two clotheslines embodying the features of the invention are shown mounted on a suitable support structure. The support structure includes a pair ofhorizontal bars 10, 11, the bar being mounted on a vertical post 12 and the bar 11 being mounted on a similar vertical post (not shown). Brackets 13 are mounted at an angle between the horizontal bars and the vertical posts to give additional stability to the support structure. Two garment-supporting structures 14, 15 are mounted United Sta es Patent 0 by suitable. means such as substantially rigid material.

2,869,730 Patented; Jan. 20, 1 959 on the bars 10, 11 parallel to each other. These two structures, 14, 15, employ two embodiments of the inventiom' Thestructure 14 includes a beam 20 is the preferred embodiment and which is mounted on the bars 10,11 pins or screws (not shown), of wood, aluminum or other The beam may be permanently afiixed to the bars 10, 11 or the components may be assembledso that they are easily taken apart and stored when the. clothing-drying structure is not in use.

A longitudinal groove 21 may be provided along the the beam 20 being made upper surface of the beam 20 and in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2 the groove is shown extending over the end 22 of thebeam. A cable 23, which may be made of steel, aluminum, plastic, cotton, or other suitable material, is positioned along the upper surface of the beam 20 in the groove 21. A ferrule 24 having a hook 25. is attached to an end of the cable 23 and a second. hook 26 is mounted onthe bar 10. The hook 25 isconnected to the hook 26 by a tension spring 27 and a. turnbuckle28, thereby providingan anchor for oneendtof the cable 23. A similar construction may be. employed at. the other end of the cable 23 or the 1513111155527, and the turnbuckle .28 may be omitted, the hooks 25 and 26 being directly engaged. Thepurpose of this construction is to stress the cable 23 in tension and urge the cable 23 against the surface of the beam 20.

When an article, such as a garment 30, is to be placed on the clothesline, the cable 23 is lifted from contact with the beam 20 and the garment is inserted through the space between the cable and the beam. Then the cable 23 is released and because it is stressed in tension, the .garment is firmly clamped between the cable and the beam as illustrated in Fig. 3. The garment may be removed by exerting a steady pull thereon, preferably in a horizontal direction, without the necessity of raising the cable 23 from the beam 20.

While the above described construction is the preferred embodiment of the invention, other forms of construction tion. elastic material such as rubber or even in the form of a long coil spring, thereby eliminating the need of the tension spring 27 at the end of the cable. In the preferred embodiment, the groove 21 is semicircular in shape and the cable 23 is circular. However, the cable could be made in other forms and the groove could have a corresponding shape. The groove serves to maintain the cable in position along the beam and it also provides for a firm grip on the garment due to the contours produced in the garment by the engagement of the cable with the groove.

In the structure 15 a second embodiment of the invention is shown. Therein a beam 20 is mounted on the bars 10, 11 in a manner similar to that of the beam 20. A flat strip 31 having a rectangular cross section and composed of an elastic material is positioned along the upper surface of the beam.20'. Thestrip 31 is terminated with a flat block 32 having a vertical opening therethrough, A substantially Z-shaped rod 33 having one end projecting through the opening in the block 32 and the other end engaged in a suitable opening in the beam 20 anchors the end of the strip 31 to the beam. The tension in the strip 31 may be adjusted by providing a plurality of spaced openings in the block 32. One such opening is indicated by the numeral 32'.

A spacer may be provided to facilitate lifting the cable 23 out of the groove 21 when it is desired to place an article on the clothesline. is mounted in a handle 35, the rod 34 being bent to wrap around the beam 20 (Figs. 1 and 4). The top portion A spacer rod 34.

3650f the.rod.is inserted...between the cable 23 and the beam 20 and since the rod is rigid it spacesotheecable...

from the beam, lifting the cable out of the groove and making it easily grasped'by the fingers. The rod is slidable. alongrthe beam iand. should be. moved along thebeam from onevend to another as. articles .are placed on the beam. A groove 37 may be made in the: beam transverse to the longitudinal-taxis thereof'and preferably adjacent 10:OIlfiBI1dJOfth6 beamasshoWn inFig. 2.

Thisagroove provides a resting place for the spacer rod 34 sothat the rod may be'left on. the beam at all times Without affecting'theclampingpressure-between the cable 23 and thebeam .20.

Although several exemplary embodiments of the invention' have been disclosed andsdiscuss'edyit' will be understood that "other applicationsiof the invention are possible end-that the embodiments disclosedmay' be subjected vto various':changes, modifications and substitutions :without necessarily departing from the spirit of the flexible member into said groove; and a spacer disposed laterally between said surface and said flexible member and -movable longitudinally along-maid .beam for lifting said member from said groove.

2. In a clothesline, the -combination of: a bar having a longitudinal groove along the top surface thereof; support means maintaining said bar relatively horizontal; cable means lying in said groove, the ends of said cable means being fixed relative to said bar, said cable means including spring means stressing said cable means in tension and urging said cable means into said groove; and hook means laterally positioned -betweensaid bar and said cable means and formed so as to engage all sides'of said bar, said hook means'being'movable longitudinally along said bar, said hook means maintaining adjacent portions of said cable means out of said groove.

3. A clothesline as defined in claim 2, including at least one lateral groove along said top surface, said lateral groove being capable of receiving said hook means and deep enough to pla'cesaidfhook means below said top surface References Cited in thefile ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pikor Dec. 6, 1949 

